“you rock!” — before a packed audience of 400 South Jersey residents Thursday in a town hall meeting at the National Guard Armory.

Taking six questions during the course of the two-hour event, the governor spoke on topics including the Vineland Developmental Center, the closing of Sacred Heart High School and his new effort to enroll non-violent drug offenders in treatment programs rather than lengthy prison sentences.

“These were really the questions I thought people would ask, which is good because I feel that I do have a hand on some of the issues you care about,” said Christie, who stated he came to Vineland at the behest of Ann Romano, Mayor Robert Romano’s wife, during his monthly radio interview.

“Listen, I know the state is in a bad shape, but we’re making a comeback. Two years ago, New Jersey was only talked about on the late night shows — The Sopranos, Real Housewives and — God forbid — Jersey Shore. But now we’re being talked about on the evening news shows and the Sunday talk shows.

“Because something is happening here.”

“It’s you!” shouted members of the audience.

Questions from the audience:

• Mike from Lindhurst asked about the 100 Catholic schools that have closed across the state in the past year, including Vineland’s own Sacred Heart, which is due to shutter its doors for the last time at the end of this school year in June.

“Are you in favor of some kind of income tax credit or rebate for parents that choose to pay private school tuition?” he asked.

“I already do,” answered the governor.

Christie, whose four children all attend Catholic schools, stated he supports a bill that has been debated in the Legislature for the past four years called the Opportunity Scholarship Act.

“I don’t know why people are against it, but they are,” said Christie. “The only reason it hasn’t become law is because of urban legislators who are fully under the spell of the teachers’ union, which has made fighting this their priority.”

He later added: “It’s not anti-public schools, because the public schools are still going to get funding.”

• A representative from a statewide substance abuse counseling organization praised Christie for his recent comments that he would support legislation that would place nonviolent drug offenders in treatment rather than prison.

“Is there a plan?” he asked.

“First off, I want to say that if you commit a violent offense, you need to go to prison — we can’t have you on the streets,” Christie began. “But, if a you’re nonviolent offender, you go to prison, drugs get smuggled in to some prisons and you leave an addict.

“Then they release you and you’re back in no time — because you’re an addict — and the cycle continues.”

According to Christie, it costs the state $49,000 to “warehouse” each inmate per year.

“Drug addiction is a disease and it can be treated,” he added. “Some people may call that soft — I’ve been called a lot of things, but I’ve never been called soft.”

Christie also said the measure would allow the state to save further money by closing some prisons.

• Melissa from Vineland kept the subject of nonviolent drug offenders alive. A recovering drug addict — 10 years sober — she now works as a drug and alcohol addiction counselor for Cumberland County.

She lamented that funding for her programs has run out, and some regulations require her charges to present two forms of identification and proof of income.

“Now, when I was a user, I know I didn’t have two forms of ID and proof of income,” she added.

Christie answered, stating he wants existing health-care providers and county governments to coordinate on the program, if it becomes law.

• Kelly, who owns a real estate business in Millville, said she and her husband, who owns a hair salon, are struggling every day.

“But we want to be part of the solution,” she said. “What can we do to help Cumberland County come back with the rest of the state?”

“There’s no easy answer,” said Christie. “If you believe that you’re making enough money that you can start employing people, that’s one thing.”

Christie also urged those in attendance to get involved in the political process by making their voices heard.

“Understand how politics affect you,” he added.

• Carol, present with family members from Linwood, was concerned over the fate of the state’s seven development centers, particularly the Vineland Developmental Center.

The VDC was slated for closure until a bill passed through the Legislature created a committee on developmental centers, which will eventually offer its recommendations on which centers to close and which to leave open.

Christie stated he is morally opposed to the large-scale institutionalization that currently takes place in the state, and that while some people can only be placed in such an institution, others should be allowed to live in more community-based environments.

“The dirty secret in New Jersey is that we institutionalize more people than any other state except Texas,” he said. “Some people will always need to be in an institution, but we need to find those who can thrive in other places.”

Christie also stated that no developmental center was, or will, be closed to save money.

“Closing these centers isn’t saving the state money, and it’s not saving you money,” he said. “But, what we’re trying to do is correct the problem that we institutionalize more than anyone but Texas. I think that’s morally wrong.

“We’re not going to close all of them, but we are going to close some of them. I’m not going to put someone’s job ahead of the welfare of someone who is mentally disabled.”

• The last question came from John, a Cumberland County resident and member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 351. He wanted the governor to voice his support for more nuclear power generation.

He got his wish.

“I want to say for the record that I am in favor of building more nuclear power plants in the state,” said Christie. “But you know the maze of getting one built. There hasn’t been a new nuclear power plant built in this country for a long time.”

According to Christie, 53 percent of electricity in New Jersey comes from nuclear power, and that increasing that figure is a “no brainer.

“It’s cheaper, it’s cleaner. I have my Board of Public Utilities people discussing it with the federal government, and PSE&G, the power company,” he said. “I’m not going to kowtow to those who are afraid to do this.”